Three priests and one former priest have sent statements to the papal nuncio, Antonio Mennini, about sexual impropriety dating back to 1980.
As head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, next week O'Brien will be part of the conclave choosing the next Pope, but now he faces demands for his immediate resignation.
As reported by The Observer, one of the priests alleges that he has needed counselling after an inappropriate relationship with O'Brien.
A second complainant said that he was 18-years-old when O'Brien made an inappropriate approach after night prayers.
A third said he was invited to 'get to know' O'Brien at the archbishop's residence only to face 'unwanted behaviour' from O'Brien after late-night drinking.
A spokesman for the cardinal said that he contests the allegations.
O'Brien, originally from Northern Ireland, has been Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh since 1985.
In November, he was named 'bigot of the year' by Stonewall, a gay rights charity, after he referred to same-sex marriage as a 'grotesque subversion'
Last week he said that priests should be able to marry because celibacy has left many priests struggling to 'cope' without the support of marriage.
Abuse claims have dogged the papacy of Benedict XVI, who is to step down at the end of February.
Performing mass in Edinburgh: Cardinal Keith O' Brien in his role as Britain's most senior Catholic
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